Vows to close France’s doors to many immigrants.
PARIS (May 5, 2007)
Nicolas Sarkozy, who would warm up relations with the United States and prod the French to work more, was favoured to win presidential elections tomorrow, and to dash Socialist Segolene Royal’s hopes at becoming France’s first woman president.
Despite Royal’s fierce final blows yesterday, all final polls suggested that Sarkozy will win tomorrow’s run-off and take over this restless, troubled nuclear power from the aging Jacques Chirac.
If the polls prove right, France would have a president friendly toward the United States but not servile, who gladly shook U.S. President George W. Bush’s hand but wants a deadline on pulling out of Iraq and wouldn’t favour war against Iran.
As president, Sarkozy says he would loosen labour laws to make the stagnant economy more competitive worldwide, a formula that risks street protests by a populace deeply attached to its generous social protections. He promises to cut taxes, but also assert the state’s interest in industrial giants.
Sarkozy would be the first child of an immigrant in the Elysee Palace — his father fled Hungary’s communists after the Second World War — but would close France’s doors to many immigrants.